Door-operating mechanism



May 14, 192,9. H. c. BossERDl-:T 1,712,785

Doon OERATING MEcHANIsM 'Fi1eduan.`29, 192s 2 sheets-sheet 1 gilden fam @www May 14, 1929. H'. c. aos'sERm-:T

Doon OPERATING MECHANISM 'y Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITEDSTATES 1,712,186 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY c. nossnnnnfr, or nn'rnorr, MICHIGAN.

noon-OPERATING MEGHANISM.

Application led January 29, 1923. Serial No. 615,526.

My invention relates to improved door operating mechanism. The object is to provide improved door operating mechanism comprising a power operating device and a retarding device co-operating to eiiectively control the door at all times during its operation so that the door may be quickly opened or closed without jar or slam.

A further object is to provide door operating mechanism consisting oi' a power operating device and a power check device both under a single controland supplied with a power operating medium from a common source of supply.

A further object is to provide in connection with a movable door operating mechanism consisting of a power device to move the door and a. power device to check the door, said power devices being preferably of the pneumatic or fluid motor type, and so arranged and constructed as to co-operate in such a manner that by a single control valve it is possible Vto completely regulate the movement of the door. Y

A further object is to provide in door control mechanism of the fluid motor type means automatically operable to prevent building up of fluid pressure inthe control devices, adapted, preferably through the employment of means automatically operable by the movement ot the door, to exhaust the control devices after cach movement of the door, thereby insuring constant uniformity of operation of the door when under control of such devices, irrespective of whether such operation is constant or interrupted.`

Another important feature is to provide a movably supported door with control apparatus consisting of a power device to operate. the door and a power device to check the movement of the door, each of said devices being supplied with operating medium from a suitable source of power andiwhich check device is adapted to be reversely operated in opposition to the operating medium supplied thereto by the door to slow up the movement ot the door.

The. above and other objects, together with details of construction and operation, will more fully appear from the following description., appended claims and accompanying` drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation showing my improved door operating mechanism connected with a movable door.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the door operating mechanism.

`Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through a control valve.

Fig-4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line lr-4 of Fig. 3.

. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. i

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, let 10 indicate a movably supported door. As my device is particularly intended i'or use with heavy doors such as are used in public garages, it is here shown in connection with a door mounted for slidable movement upon a track 11. To operate the door I provide a power device 12 here shown as a pneumatic motor having a cylinder 13 in which is disposed a piston 14:2L connected by a piston rod 1.4 with rack 15 which drives the pinion 16 to rotate a. sheave 17 over which runs a cable 18 to operate the door. rl'he connection with the door is a common one and more particularly described in my pending application No. 431,835 iiled Dec. 20, 1920i, and obviously the construction might be of any form desired as it constitutes no part oi the present invention.

To check the movement of' the door I provide a second power device 19 which is so constructed and disposed as to be operated coincident with .each movement of the door so as to be in position to arrest such movement before the door arrives at its limit of movement. This check on the movement of the door is the result of the second power device being reversely operated by the door in opposition to t-he impulse of its supplied power medium, thereby slowly` arresting the movement of the door. i

I prefer to use in thisconnection a pneumaticmotor of reduced power as compared with the pneumatic motor used to actuate the door but regulated by the same control valve, and furnished with power from the same source as the door operating motor, and comprising a cylinder 20 within which is mounted a` reciprocating piston 21a. This piston has a piston rod 21 that extends through and beyond each end of the cylinder to be engaged i'or operation to check the movement of the door in either direction. The construction here shown is such that the piston rod 21 is engaged by provided parts of the door operating mechanism before the door arrivesatfits' limit of movement so as to slowly arrest thetravel of the door. Obviously it might be engaged by the door itself or by parts carried by the door or might even be carried by the door and engage stationary stops for though the details of .construction would vary the broad principle of operation would be the same.

vThe construction here shown is similar to that described lin my patent application Se.- rial No. 599,163 filed N ov. 4, 1922, in which there'is provided a pair of opposed stops 22 and 22a carried by the door operating mechanism ada'ptedto engage the lpiston 21 to drive the same through the cylinder against the built up pressureftherein asthe door comletes its movement in either direction, therey -retarding the movement of the door and bringing it slowly to a stop. These stops, as shown, are adjustable relative their supports. vEach cylinder is provided with an opening at each end so that fluid under pressure may be admitted and exhausted from each end of each cylinderto reciprocate the piston there in. Each of these openings is connected by a suitable communicating pasageway with a source ot" Huid pressure, the supply reservoir which is not shown in the drawing, and the admission and exhaust of fluid is controlled by means of a manually operable valve indicatedv inassembly as 23. By means of this valve itispossible to admit fluid under pressure through pipe 24 and 24'UL to one end of the power cylinder 13, and at the same time through a branch 24b to the check cylinder 20 todrive the piston 14a to operate the door and at the same time movethe piston 21 to a positionto check the door or if piston 21a is in such` position to build up a pressureto resist its movement through the cylinder, as shown in Fig. '2,in which position the piston is shown as being lso disposed as'to be engaged by the stop 22 and forced through the cylinder 20 in ,opposition to the built-up pressure therein.

Leading from Vt-he valve is a second conduit 25 vwhich communicates by means of a branch 25a with` the-opposite end of the cylinder 13 and by'way of the branch 25b with the opposite end of the check cylinder 20.

My valve comprises'a valve casing formed intwo portions 26 and 26a secured together by bolts 27, Within the interior of which is dis'pose'da rotatable valve member 28 controlled by a manually operable handle 29, said valve member being held securely toone end of the casing by spring 30. The valve is here shown as secured to the lwall,-as is the door operating mechanism.

"Fluid, preferably air under pressure, is supplied to the interior of this valve from a suitable source of air through conduit 31.

Y The rotatable member 28 is provided with an v angular air passageway 32, one end of which opens into the interior of the casing to receive compressed air andthe opposite end of which terminates in the peripher of the member 28 and is adapted to be broug t into registration with port holes in the casing which serve as terminals of the pipes 24 and 25 thereby forming a commumcating connection between the intake 3l and either pipe 24 or 25 to furnish air to the door operating mechanism from the source of supply.

As shown in Fig. 4, the rotatable melnber is in the neutral or inoperative position, the passage 32 being out of connnunication with either port hole, at which position no fluid is supplied to the door operating mechanism. Both power devices are open to exhaust as hereinafter described.

In F ig.f5 the rotatable member has been moved to bring the peripheral outlet of passageway 32 into registration with the port in the casing which communicates with conduit 25 to supply air under pressure through the pipe 25a to the cylinder 13 and through the branch extension 25b to the cylinder 20.

In Fig. 6 the rotatable member has been moved to bring the peripheral outlet of the angular passageway into communication with the port hole through the casing which forms the inlet to conduit 24 to su ply air through the branches 24a and 24" to t e opposite ends of each cylinder' from that supplied by conduit 25.

The rotatable member is also provided with a passageway 33 which is adapted, when the angular passageway 32 is brought into registration with the inlet to either pipe 24 or 25, to supply air t'rom the surce of supply thereto, to connect up the valve inlet to the. other pipe with the exhaust 34 which leads from the valve. In Fig. 5, in which view the valve `mechanism is so disposed as to permit air to enter the door control devices through the conduit 25, the passageway 33 brings the conduit 24 into communication with the exhaust 34 so that the opposite end of the air cylinders is opened to exhaust. In Fig. 6, in which view the angular passageway forms a communicating link between the inlet 31 and the conduit 24, the passageway 33 connects up the conduit 25 with the exhaust 34 so that the opposite ends of the cylinders are opened to exhaust.

Two additional passageways indicated as and 36 are provided through this rotatable member. These passageways have a common end opening adapted to register' with the exhaust 34 from the valve when the valve is in theneutral position, the opposite end of passageway then being in registration with the conduit 24 and the opposite end of passageway 36 being in registration with conduit 25; It will be seen, therefore, that when the valve is in neutral theI supply conduits 24 and 25 which lead to the cylinders place both ends of each cylinder in a position to exhaust so that air under pressure will not be stored in the cylinders from one movement of operation to another but whenever the valveis brought into the neutral position the cylinders will exhaust. It will also appear that when air is admitted to either end of the cylinders, the opposite ends of the cylinders are opened automatically to exhaust.

I have provided mechanism operable by the door to automatically throw the valve into the neutral position with each complete movement of the door. This prevent-s the building up of fluid pressure in the control devices from one movement of operation to another and insures uniformity of action of the control devices when air is admitted thereto. This connection may consist, as here shown, of mechanical linkagecomprising a pair of levers 37 and 38 suitably pivoted to the wall at points 39 and ll0` respectively. Theselever arms are connected by means of a tie rod 4l so as to swing together anda link 4t2 is extended from the free end of lever 38 to the valve operating handle 29. To operate these levers I provide a stop 43 carried by the connection between the piston lil and the rack l5 so arranged that just before r the door arrives at its limit ofmovement in` one direct-ion the stop 43 engages lever 3S moving it to a vertical positionso as to shift the handle 29 of the valve into the neutral position. Then the rack is moving in the opposite direction the stop i3 will engage lever 37 and swing the handle from the pos sition to which it has been moved to admit air to the control mechanism, to the vertical position which places the valve in nenti-al. It will be seen that, of course, as the handle 29 is shifted in either one direction or the other to admit air first to one end and then the other end of the aircylinders that the lever varms 37 and 38 will be swung about their pivot points away from the verticalposition and into which they must be moved with the placing of the valve mechanism in the neutral position. f

In the operation of this device if the, valve handle 29 is shifted so as to admit air from the inlet 3l through the valve casing and passageway 32 to the conduit 24, air will enterthrcugh the branch 24a the cylinder 13 and drive the piston outwardly to operate the door. At the same time a portion of the air will pass through conduit 241 to the cheek cylinder 20 to drive the piston therein into the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2l or if piston 21 is in such position to build up a pressure to resist its movement through the cylinder. As the door` approaches its limit of movement stop 22 carried by the door operating mechanism will engage the end of the piston rod 2l and drive the same through the cylinder 20 against the pressure built up therein, forcing the air out of the cylinder 20 back through t-he conduits 24 and 24 and through the valve into the source ofisupply, thereby cushioning `the shock ofthe door as it comes to a stop. The difference in power Athe newdirection of travel.

of the two air motors is such that the small `motorl) will yield to the larger motor l2.

As heretofore described, the air will be eX- hausted from cylinder 13 ahead of the moving piston through the conduit 25 and through the valve to the atmosphere, and at the same time the air ahead ofthe moving piston, 2ln in the check cylinder while such pistonis under control of the air ,entering through the branch 24th will be exhausted through the conduit 25b in the same manner into the atmosphere. In operating the door in the reverse direction the method of valve operation will be the same except that air under pressure will `be entering through the conduit 25 and leaving through the conduit 24. It is possibleto reverse the movement of the door at any point in its travel, and the check device automatically assumes a position to check the movement of the door in Further, when the valve is in the neutral position the` door may be operated independently of the power operating mechanism.

What I claim is: i y

l. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movably supported door, of apower cylinder, a piston therein having connection with the door to operate the same, a check cylinder, a piston therein to check the movement of the door before itarrives at its limit of movement, a source of power, a communicating connection from said source of power to each end of each cylinder to admit or exhaust operating medium therefrom, control means to regulate the admission and exhaustof operating medium to and from each end of each of said cylinders.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movably supported door, of a power cylinder, a piston therein having connection with the door to operatethe same, a check cylinder, a piston therein to checl; the movement ofthe door before it arrives at its limit of movement, a source of power, a communicating connection from said source ofpower to each end of each cylinder to admit `or exhaust operating medium therefrom, control means to regulate the admission and exhaust of operating medium to and from each end of each of said cylinders adapted when disposed to admit operatingmedium to either end of said cylinders to open the other end thereof to exhaust. Y

3. `In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movably supported door, of a power cylinder, a piston therein having connection with the door to operate the same, a check cylinder, apistontherein to check the movement ofthe door before it arrives at its limit of movement, a source of power, .a communicating connection from said source of power to each end of each cylinder to admit or exhaust operating medium therefrom, Va single control `to regulate the admissionofjoperating medium to one end of each'of said cylinders and at the same time vopen the other end to exhaust. v

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movably supported door, of afpower cylinder, a vpiston therein having V connection with the door to operate the same,

' a check cylinder,a piston therein to check the vmovement of the door before'it arrives at its'limit of movement, a source of power, a communica-ting connection from said source of power to each endvof each cylinder to ad- 'mit or exhaust operating medium therefrom,

'asingle control to regulate the admission of operating medium to one end of each of said Acylinders and at the same time open the lother end'to exhaust and having a position at vmit or'exhaust operating medium therefrom,

controlmeans-to regulate' the admission and exhaust of operating medium to and from l y each end of each of said cylinders adapted to admit operating mediumtovthe power cylin- YsesY `der`to"operate the door-and to the check cylinder to build up a pressure therein tending to hold the piston in position to be driven reversely through the cylinder, overcoming said built up pressure by the movement of the door;

v6. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination-with a movably s upported'door,

of a power cylinder, a piston therein having connection with the v.door to operate the same,

acheck cylinder, a piston therein to check the movement of the door beforeV it arrives at itslirnit of movement, a-source 'of power, a communicating connection `from said source of power to each end of each cylinder to admit or exhaust operating mediumy therefrom, control means to regulate theadmission and exhaust of operating medium to and from each end of each of said cylindersadapted to admit operating medium to the power cylinder to operate the doorand at thesame time i to the check cylinder'to build up a pressure therein, said piston adapted to be driven by the lmoveme'nto'f the door reversely through the check cylinder in opposition to the built up pressure thereinV to check the door.

t 7. In yapparatus of the class described, the

` combination with a movably supported door,

of apower cylinder, a piston therein having connectionwith the door to operate the same,

acheck` cylinder, a piston therein to cheek the movement ofthe doorbefore it arrives at its limit of movement, a sourceof power, a communicating connection from said source of power to each end of each cylinder to admit and exhaust operating medium therefrom, control means to regulate the admission and exhaust of operatin medium to and from each end of each of sai( cylinders adapted to admit operating medium to the power cylinder to operate the door and at the same time to the check cylinder to build up a pressure therein, said piston in the check cylinder adapted to be reversely operated by the door against the built up pressure in the check cylinder to check the movement of the door` and means operable by the door to exhaust both cylinders.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a movably `supported door, of a power cylinder, a piston therein having connection with the door to operate the same, acheck cylinder, a piston therein to be actuated by the door to check the movement of the door before it arrives at its limit of movement, a source of power, a communicating connection from said source of power to each end of each cylinder to admit and exhaust operating medium therefrom, control means to regulate the-admission and exhaust of operating medium to and from each end of each of .said cylinders adapted to admit operating medium to the power cylinder to operate the door and at the same time to the check cylinder to build up a pressure therein to restrain the door actuated movcn'ient of. the piston therethrough and means operable by the door to exhaust the operating medium from each of said cylinders as the door arrives at its limit of movement in a given direction.

9. In apparatus of thel class described. the

Ycombination with a movabl y supported door,

of a power cylinder, a piston therein having connection with the door to open and to close the same, a check cylinder, a piston therein to be actuated by the door to check the movement of the door in either direction before it arrives at its limit of movement, a source of power, `a comi'nunicating connection from said source of power to each en d of cach cvlinder to admit or exhaust operating medium therefrom, single control means to regulate theadmission and exhaust of operatin medium to and from each end of each of said cylinders adapted to admit operating medium to the power cylinder to operate the door and at the same time to the check cylinder to build up a pressure therein to check the door actuated movement of the piston therethrou h in either direction, and means automatica ly operable to exhaust the operating medium from said power cylinder with the completion of each movement of the door.

10.. In door operating mechanism, a movably supported door, a fluid motor having a piston to operate the door, a fluid pressure control device having a piston adapted to be actuated in the same direction by the movement olf the door to Check such nioveinent, a source of fluid pressure,`eontrol means adapted to admit fluid under pressure from said source to either end of the door operating; motor to drive its piston in a given direction to operate the door, seid control means adapted at the saine time to admit liuid under pressure to either end of the control device to build up a pressure therein to restrain the movement of its piston in the same direction.

1l. In door operating mechanism, av door, a single fluid motor provided With a piston Connected with the door to open and close the same, a single fluid pressure check cylinder provided with a piston adapted to be aetuated by the door in the opening and in the closing thereof to cheek the door, a source of fluid pressure, a single control valve operable to admit fluid under pressure from said source to either end of said lluid motor to operate the door and to either end of said check cylinder to determine the position of the piston therein and to build up a pressure therein to resist the door actuated movement of the piston therethrough.

l2. The invention as characterized in claim l1 wherein the control valve is adapted to be actuated to simultaneously exhaust both the fluid motor and the check cylinder.

13. The invention as characterized in claim 11 wherein inechanisn'i is provided adapted to be actuated by the door coincident with the closing` thereof to exhaust the fluid motor and at substantially the same time to exhaust the check cylinder,

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

HENRY C. BOSSERDET. 

